Which value?!

[constantstar]

Today I will decide on a resort! We're going to WDW 11/27-12/3. It will be our second trip this year so I'm trying to keep the price low. I'm currently booked at Pop. But, we've stayed there before and I like to mix things up. I've looked at other values and I love the look of Art of Animation (would be standard room) and I think my kids would really like the theming at All Star Movies. We're a family of 4 - me, husband, DD will be 5, and DS will be turning 3 in Disney. We generally open the parks and get back to the resort around 10. We don't swim or eat at the resort except maybe on arrival or departure day. We won't be doing the dining plan (unless free, which I doubt bc these dates are usually blacked out) so we don't need to be near the lobby to refill our mugs. But, we do take the bus and after a long park day, we don't want a crazy walk to our rooms.

We've previously stayed at Port Orleans Riverside, Pop, and Coronado. Honestly, we felt the moderates sort of lacked some Disney. I like the in your face theming of the values. If we did go moderate, I'm thinking Port Orleans Royal Room.

I'm hoping that some of you ladies and gentlemen can help me make a decision. Pop, Art, or Movies? If Pop or Movies - is preferred worth the money? Any and all opinions and advice is appreciated!

 

[MomTo3PrincessesInNJ]

If you don't like a long walk I'd book preferred at ASMovies. The walk to the Ariel rooms at AoA will feel like forever after a long day at the parks. It really isn't that bad of a walk during the day... but it FEELS like it never ends at night. Whenever we stay on property we book the preferred rooms to be closer to the bus stop. Personal choice.

I will note that I prefer Pop over the AS (I really like to food court at Pop), but like you I also like to change it up, so I say give Movies a chance!

 

[constantstar]

If you don't like a long walk I'd book preferred at ASMovies. The walk to the Ariel rooms at AoA will feel like forever after a long day at the parks. It really isn't that bad of a walk during the day... but it FEELS like it never ends at night. Whenever we stay on property we book the preferred rooms to be closer to the bus stop. Personal choice.

I will note that I prefer Pop over the AS (I really like to food court at Pop), but like you I also like to change it up, so I say give Movies a chance!

Movies would have the benefit of being the least expensive - even with preferred

 

[sam_rogers]

If you're planning on taking the bus a lot I would consider the AS sports. The three all stars often share a bus to the parks and DTD and they can become quite crowded. Sports is the first hotel of the three that the buses stop at so you are more likely to get a seat (or get on at all!) staying at the sports. I've stayed there three times and always enjoyed it but me and my husband also really like the theme here.

 

[tink18]

We like Sports but all All Stars are good, if your not going to be at the room that often I would save the money and stay at one of those rather than paying the extra to be at POP or AOA

 

[constantstar]

If you're planning on taking the bus a lot I would consider the AS sports. The three all stars often share a bus to the parks and DTD and they can become quite crowded. Sports is the first hotel of the three that the buses stop at so you are more likely to get a seat (or get on at all!) staying at the sports. I've stayed there three times and always enjoyed it but me and my husband also really like the theme here.

With 2 little ones and a double stroller, we definitely need a good spot on the bus. We stayed at the first stop at Coronado earlier this month and I always felt bad for the folks at the 4th stop that had to stand, or couldn't even get in.

 

[dansdad]

With 2 little ones and a double stroller, we definitely need a good spot on the bus. We stayed at the first stop at Coronado earlier this month and I always felt bad for the folks at the 4th stop that had to stand, or couldn't even get in.

FYI, we have had over 30 nights across all 3 All Stars and shared a bus a grand total of 3 times. All 3 of those times was in the middle of the day with maybe 6 other people on the entire bus. During busy commute times, they do not share.

 

[constantstar]

FYI, we have had over 30 nights across all 3 All Stars and shared a bus a grand total of 3 times. All 3 of those times was in the middle of the day with maybe 6 other people on the entire bus. During busy commute times, they do not share.

Our commute times are pre-opening to the park and after the night show back to the resort. I'd imagine those would be the "busier" bus times and therefore not shared. I suppose there's only one way to find out

30 nights is pretty impressive! Which All Star is your favorite?

 

[dansdad]

Our commute times are pre-opening to the park and after the night show back to the resort. I'd imagine those would be the "busier" bus times and therefore not shared. I suppose there's only one way to find out

30 nights is pretty impressive! Which All Star is your favorite?

Sports. Just because of the theming. Sports are very big in our household.

 

[pens4821]

I wouldn't worry at all about the sharing. I had a bit of a worry about it, and there was no need to. We stayed at Sports last week which was a low crowd time and we had one issue (that ended up not being that bad for us) with bus sharing. We NEVER shared a bus on the way to a park, or leaving a park at/near closing time. We went to DS twice, on the way there once we shared, once we didn't. Coming back from the parks mid day we did share most days, however there is no reason to worry about that. The lines were never that big, and the buses weren't overly packed (i honestly don't remember any standing room only mid day sharing, but not positive on that).

The issue we did have was leaving DS one day. Leaving Saturday about 3 we shared and didn't have a long wait. Thursday about 10 we got in line, and didn't see a bus for the All Stars for 40 minutes. They brought two buses at the same time, we got on the second one, but were one of the last few on. I'm not exaggerating when I say they probably needed 5 more buses to get all the people out that were waiting in line. I have no idea how long those people had to wait, hopefully they brought a few more buses back to back quickly.

I'm not telling you that to scare you, but do want to be honest about it. I doubt that'll ever happen coming from a park, but who knows. I know I'll never worry about bus sharing at the All Stars, and would stay there again in a heartbeat.